Mason wins in Otago

Masterton's Richard and Sara Mason won the Rally of Otago yesterday to extend their lead in the New Zealand Rally Championship.
In this second of six rounds, the husband and wife team extended their opening day win by clean-sweeping yesterday's six tests through central Otago in their Subaru Impreza.
The pair finished over a minute ahead of Geraldine driver Hayden Paddon (Mitsubishi), who was a minute ahead of Hastings-based Stewart Taylor in a Lancer EVO 9.
"The aim was to be consistent, said Richard Mason, now 29 points ahead in the championship. "We didn't feel like we were over exerting ourselves or driving silly."
Second in the 22-strong championship field, Paddon said the third round in the top of the North Island would hopefully favour him.
"I feel like I've stepped up my pace. Richard is obviously going quicker as well but I think Whangarei suits my driving style and the Michelin (tyres) work well up there."
With a myriad of minor issues befalling much of the pace exerted by the competition, juniors Sloan Cox (Mitsubishi), Andre Meier (Subaru) and Kirsty Nelson (Subaru) again made a clean and spirited mark on the standings to impress spectators.
Cox, 16, finished eighth, Meier, 19, was ninth and 18-year-old Nelson 10th.- NZPA